Launch of Surveillance for Severe Influenza Cases Surveillance for severe influenza cases begins in the first week of November in mainland France. Its objectives are to:

• Describe the epidemiological characteristics of severe cases in order to adapt control measures as necessary;

• Track the weekly number of severe cases to anticipate potential overcrowding of healthcare facilities and assess the severity of the epidemic.

In the Limousin region, all intensive care units are involved. The intensive care unit faxes a data collection form to the Regional Health Surveillance Unit for Limousin and Poitou-Charentes for any case of influenza—whether probable (as determined by the hospital physician) or confirmed—admitted to the intensive care unit.